Vehicle seat assembly

ABSTRACT

A vehicle seat assembly that elevates and rotates to enhance passenger seat access is disclosed. The vehicle seat assembly includes a seat and a plurality of links pivotally coupled to a lower surface of the seat at one end of each of the links and pivotally mounted with respect to a vehicle floor at the opposite end of each of the links. The axes of rotation of each link relative to the vehicle floor converge at a central area underneath the seat. A motor may be used to drive at least one link to actuate the seat between a first position in which the links are substantially parallel to the vehicle floor and a second position in which the links are transverse to the vehicle floor. In moving from the first to the second position, the seat is elevated and rotated by the movement of the links.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/704,368, entitled “VEHICLE SEAT ASSEMBLY,” filed onAug. 1, 2005.

Also, this application hereby incorporates by reference theabove-identified provisional application, in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to vehicle seats, and morespecifically to vehicle seats which are movable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ART

Seating surfaces in vehicles such as cars, boats, airplanes, and trainsare often low relative to the floor of the vehicle. This low seatsurface height requires a passenger (as used herein, a passenger of avehicle includes any vehicle passenger and the driver, pilot, or captainof that vehicle) to physically strain themselves to sit down on or standup from the seat. The physical demands of lowering oneself to a lowseating surface can be exacerbated in the case of a vehicle such as acar, where a low seating surface may be combined with a low ceiling anda small or oddly-shaped door opening to require physical maneuveringbordering on contortion to access or exit the vehicle seat. Moreover,the physical difficulties in accessing vehicle seats are increased inhigher performance sports cars and sports sedans as high performancecars often have lower ride heights and lower rooflines than moretraditional sedans, trucks, and vans, allowing for a lower center ofgravity and lower drag, both beneficial to overall vehicle performance.Moreover, performance cars often have two doors, which can make entry toand exit from these cars difficult in tight parking quarters as thedoors can not be opened as widely as a shorter door on a four-door car.Therefore, there is a need for a vehicle seat that assists a passengerin entry and exit from the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Previous vehicle seats have offered elevation adjustment to providepassenger adjustability while in a seated position, for example to allowa passenger to select a comfortable seating position or obtain adesirable view. However, these vehicle seats have generally not beenconfigured be height-adjustable to promote vehicle entry and egress, andhave not offered rotation capabilities. Merely elevating the passengeroften will not aid access to the seat as a car passenger would then needto squeeze out of a shorter opening between the vehicle roofline and anow-elevated seat. Therefore, there is a need for a vehicle seat thatrotates a passenger towards the vehicle door, while elevating thepassenger to position the passenger for easy entry to or exit from thevehicle.

Prior vehicle seats have combined elevation and rotation functions of avehicle seat to aid with loading and unloading of the seat. But, theseseats have featured multiple, complex mechanisms to accommodate both theelevation and rotation of the seat, leading to increased costs,manufacturing complexities, and reliability concerns. Therefore, thereis a need for a seat that elevates and rotates through the use of asimple, robust mechanism to provide enhanced access to a passenger seat.

In light of the shortcomings of the prior art as discussed above, thereis a need for a vehicle seat assembly that elevates and rotates apassenger to enhance access to the vehicle's door and assist thepassenger in entering or exiting the vehicle. In various embodiments,vehicle seat assemblies of the present invention provide a vehicle seatthat rotates and elevates with respect to the floor of the vehicle toassist passenger ingress and egress.

In certain embodiments, the vehicle seat assembly includes a seat havinga seating surface and a plurality of links, each link having a firstportion and a second portion. The first portion of each link isconfigured to be pivotally mounted with respect to a floor of a vehicle.The second portion of each link is pivotally connected to a lowersurface of the seating surface. The pivotal mounting of the first endsof each link defines an axis of rotation for each link. The axes ofrotation of every link of the plurality of links intersect at a centralarea beneath the seat when the seat is in a relaxed position. Typically,the first portion is the first end and the second portion being thesecond end, though this is not necessary. As used herein, “end” is abroad term and is not limited to the outer most portion of the link.

In other embodiments, the vehicle seat assembly includes a seat having aseating surface and a plurality of links, each link having a firstportion and a second portion. The first portion of each link isconfigured to be pivotally mounted with respect to a floor of a vehicle.The second portion of each link is pivotally coupled to a lower surfaceof the seating surface. The pivotal mounting of each link defines a pairof axes of rotation for each link. The seat assembly is movable betweena first position in which the axes of rotation for each of the pluralityof links are substantially parallel to the floor of the vehicle and theseating surface and a second position in which the plurality of linksare transverse to the vehicle floor and the seating surface. When theseating assembly is moved between the first and second positions, thelinks cooperate to elevate and rotate the seat with respect to thevehicle floor.

In other embodiments, the vehicle seat assembly includes a seat and asingle rotating linkage mechanism. The single rotating linkage mechanismprovides both elevation and rotation of the seat relative to a vehiclefloor.

In still other embodiments, methods of elevating and rotating a vehicleseat are disclosed. The methods include the steps of providing a seatassembly having a seating surface pivotally mounted to a floor of avehicle with a plurality of links and driving at least one of theplurality of links from a first position in which the at least onedriven link is substantially parallel to the vehicle floor and theseating surface towards a second position in which the at least onedriven link is transverse to the vehicle floor and the seating surface.Each link of the plurality of links has a first end and a second end.The first ends of each of the plurality links are pivotally mounted withrespect to the floor of the vehicle and the second ends of each of theplurality of links are pivotally coupled to a lower surface of theseating surface.

In yet other embodiments, methods of exiting a seat assembly aredisclosed. The methods include the steps of actuating a seat assemblycomprising a seat having a seating surface and standing up off of theseat. The seat is pivotally mounted with respect to a floor of a vehiclewith a plurality of links each having a first end and a second end. Thefirst ends of each of the plurality of links are pivotally mounted withrespect to the floor of the vehicle and the second ends of each of theplurality of links are pivotally coupled to a lower surface of theseating surface. The actuating step includes the step of moving theplurality of links from a first position in which the links aresubstantially parallel to the vehicle floor toward a second position inwhich the links are transverse to the vehicle floor and the seatingsurface.

For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages achievedover the prior art, certain objects and advantages of the invention havebeen described above and as further described below. Of course, it is tobe understood that not necessarily all such objects or advantages may beachieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention.Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that theinvention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves oroptimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein withoutnecessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught orsuggested herein.

All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope of theinvention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of the presentinvention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following detailed description of the preferred embodiments havingreference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited toany particular preferred embodiment(s) disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one embodiment of a vehicle seatassembly in a partially elevated position;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of another embodiment of a vehicle seatassembly having a telescoping multiaxial joint in a partially elevatedposition;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the vehicle seat assembly of FIG. 1 inan elevated and rotated position;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the vehicle seat assembly of FIG. 1B inan elevated and rotated position;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the vehicle seat assembly of FIG. 1A in anelevated and rotated position;

FIG. 4A is a top view of the vehicle seat assembly of FIG. 1A in apartially elevated position;

FIG. 4B is a top view of the vehicle seat assembly of FIG. 1A in apartially elevated position including a schematic diagram of an attachedelectric motor;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the vehicle seat assembly of FIG. 1A with asuperimposed schematic view of axes of rotation for each of the links;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the axes of rotation of the links of athree-link embodiment of a vehicle seat assembly;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a three linkvehicle seat assembly;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of four link embodiment of a vehicle seatassembly in a lowered position;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the vehicle seat assembly of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10A is a front view of the vehicle seat assembly of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10B is a front view of the vehicle seat assembly of FIG. 8 with aschematic diagram of two attached electric motors;

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of the vehicle seat assembly of FIG. 8 inan elevated and rotated position;

FIG. 11B is a side view of the vehicle seat assembly of FIG. 8 in anelevated and rotated position;

FIG. 11C is a front view of the vehicle seat assembly of FIG. 8 in anelevated and rotated position;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat assembly in a loweredposition;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the vehicle seat assembly in anelevated and rotated position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Three Link Seat Assemblies

In certain embodiments of the present invention, a vehicle seat assemblyhaving three pivotable links is disclosed. Specifically, with referenceto FIGS. 1-7, various aspects of a three-link vehicle seat assembly areillustrated. FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a three link vehicleseat assembly of the present invention. The vehicle seat assembly 100comprises a seat 102 having a seating surface 104; and a plurality oflinks 106, each link having a first portion desirably defining first end108 and a second portion desirably defining a second end 110. In theembodiments of FIGS. 1-7, a three-link seat assembly is illustrated,although it is recognized that seat assemblies having four or more linksare also within the scope of the present invention.

The seat 102 may be a standard vehicle seat, such as a car seat, a boatseat, an airplane seat, or a train seat, having a seating surface 104.Preferably, the seat 102 is a car seat having a seating surface 104 anda back rest surface 105. In a multiseat vehicle such as a passenger car,a vehicle seat assembly 100 as disclosed herein may be used for one,some, or all of the seat locations. The seating surface 104 has a lowersurface 114 that may be configured to be directly or indirectlypivotally coupled or connected with the second ends 110 of each link 106as further described below.

Each of the plurality of links 106 is desirably comprised of asubstantially rigid material and, together, the plurality of links 106is capable of supporting the weight of the seat 102 and a vehiclepassenger. The links may be comprised of, for example, a metal, plastic,composite, or other material having similar rigidity and strengthproperties. In the disclosed embodiment, the links are substantiallythin and planar, so as to be compact and facilitate packaging.

The first end 108 of each link is configured to be directly orindirectly pivotally mounted or connected with respect to a floor of avehicle 112. This pivotal mounting may be made through the use of acoupling known in the art to allow pivotal movement of the link 106 withrespect to the vehicle floor 112, but preferably a pin-based hinge 124is used to provide pivotal mounting. The first end 108 of each link 106may be pivotally coupled directly to the vehicle floor 112. Alternately,to provide additional adjustability of the vehicle seat 102, the firstend 108 of each link 106 may be attached to a base section 126 that isconfigured to mount to the floor of a vehicle. This base section 126 maybe configured to mount to the vehicle floor 112 as known in the art. Forexample, the base section 126 may be slidably attached to the vehiclefloor 112 on at least one rail or seat track. Alternately, the basesection 126 may be removably attached to the vehicle floor 112 such thatthe entire seat assembly 100 may be removed, for example, to allowadditional room for cargo.

The pivotal mounting of the first ends 108 of each link 106 with respectto the floor of the vehicle 112 defines an axis of rotation 116, 118,120 (FIGS. 5 and 6) for each link. FIG. 5 is a top view of a vehicleseat assembly 100 with a superimposed schematic view of the axes ofrotation 116, 118, 120 of the links 106. FIG. 6 is a schematic view ofthe axes of rotation 116, 118, 120 of the links 106. The axes ofrotation 116, 118, 120 of each link 106 intersect at a central area 122beneath the seat 102. Desirably, the central area has an area ofapproximately 64 square inches such as the area defined by a generallysquare shape having a side length of 8 inches. More desirably, thecentral area has an area of approximately 4 square inches, such as thearea defined by a generally square shape having a side length of 2inches. Preferably, the axes of rotation intersect at substantially asingle point 510 beneath the seat 102. This intersection of the axes ofrotation 116, 118, 120 facilitates smooth elevation and rotation of theseat 102 relative to the vehicle floor 112 by pivoting the links 106about their respective axes 116, 118, 120. Thus, advantageously, bothelevation and rotation of the seat 102 is accomplished through the threelink assembly rather than the complex separate elevation and rotationmechanisms of the prior art. Advantageously, this single mechanismprovides coordinated elevation, and rotation of the seat results insmooth, reliable, easy-to-use actuation of the seat to enhance passengeraccess.

With reference to FIGS. 1B and 2B, in some embodiments, the vehicle seatassembly can include a telescoping ball joint 130 positionedapproximately at the central area 122 of the seat. In FIGS. 1B and 2B,the telescoping ball joint 130 is illustrated schematically as it iscontemplated that various ball joints can be used in the seat assembly.Advantageously, the telescoping ball joint 130 can move with and supportthe vehicle seat 102 over the range of motion of the seating surface 104during actuation of the mechanism. Thus, loads on the links 106 can bereduced by the ball joint 130. Moreover, in embodiments of vehicle seatassembly including a ball joint 130, there can be additional tolerancefor minor misalignments of the links 106.

The second end 110 of each link 106 is pivotally coupled to a lowersurface 114 of the seating surface 104. This pivotal coupling of thesecond end 110 may be accomplished with a coupling known in the art toallow relative rotation each of the links 106 and the seating surfaceabout two transverse axes. For example, the pivotal coupling may beprovided for each link 106 by a double hinge assembly 128. Alternately,the pivotal coupling may be provided by a spherical bearing 728 (FIG. 7)pivotally coupling each link 106 to the seating surface 104. FIG. 7depicts a perspective view of a three-link embodiment of a seat assembly100 having spherical bearings 728 pivotally coupling the links 106 tothe lower surface 114 of the seating surface 104.

The elevation and rotation of the vehicle seat assembly is depicted inFIGS. 1-4. The seat assembly 100 is movable between a first position inwhich the links 106 are substantially parallel to the vehicle floor 112and the seating surface 104 and a second position in which the links 106are transverse to the floor of the vehicle 112 and the seating surface104. During typical operation of a vehicle such as driving a car, theseat 100 will remain in the first position. The seat may be moved partway between the first and second position during operation of thevehicle to adjust the elevation and rotation of the seat relative to thevehicle to enhance the view or the comfort of the passenger. The seat100 may be moved to the second position to facilitate entering orexiting the vehicle. When the seat assembly 100 is moved between thefirst and second positions, the seat 102 is elevated and rotated withrespect to the vehicle floor 112 to enhance passenger access andfacilitate passenger egress.

FIGS. 1 (perspective view) and 4 (top view) depict the seat assembly 100in a partially elevated position, having left the first position, andmoving towards the second position. FIGS. 2 (perspective view) and 3(top view) depict the seat assembly 100 in an elevated and rotatedposition closer to the second position. Preferably, the links 106 arearranged such that in moving from the first position to the secondposition, the seat 102 elevates a passenger and rotates the legs of thepassenger towards a vehicle door such as a car door to ease exit fromthe seat 102. Likewise, the vehicle seat 102 may be used to ease sittingdown on a vehicle seat by allowing a passenger to sit down on the seatin the second position, then moving the vehicle seat from the secondposition to the first position.

To assist with passenger ingress and egress of the vehicle, the seatassembly 100 may be driven between the first position and the secondposition by a motor 140 (FIG. 4B) driving the pivotal rotation of one ofthe links 106. The motor 140 may be an electric motor or a hydraulicactuator coupled to one of the links 106 via an output shaft 142 (FIG.4B). FIG. 4B illustrates a schematic representation of a motor 140 andoutput shaft 142 with the seat assembly 100. The passenger may controlthe motor using a door or dashboard-mounted switch, button, dial, orother suitable control. In three link embodiments of the seat assembly100, a single motor 140 coupled to a single link 106 can be used to movethe seat between the first position and the second position.Alternately, in other three-link embodiments, more two or more motorscoupled to one, two, or more links can be used to move the seat betweenthe first position and the second position. However, in four or morelink embodiments of the seat assembly 800, discussed below and depictedin FIGS. 8-11, two or more motors 840, 842 (FIG. 10B) acting on two ormore links 806 may be required.

Four Link Seat Assemblies

Certain embodiments of the seat assembly include a pivotal connectionbetween the seat 802, the vehicle floor 812, and four links 806. FIGS.8-11 depict illustrative four-link embodiments. With the exception of afourth link 806, the structure and operation of the four-linkembodiments of the seat assembly 800 are substantially identical tothose of the three-link embodiments of the seat assembly 100 (FIGS. 1-2)as described above. FIG. 8 (perspective view), FIG. 9 (side view), andFIG. 10 (front view) illustrate a four-link embodiment of a seatassembly 800 in a first position in which the links 806 aresubstantially parallel to the vehicle floor 812 and the seat surface804. FIGS. 11A (perspective view), 11B (side view), and 11C (front view)illustrate a four-link embodiment of a seat assembly 800 that has beenmoved towards the second position in which the links 806 are transverseto the vehicle floor 812 and the seating surface 804. As with thethree-link embodiments, links 806 are pivotally mounted with respect tothe vehicle floor 812 such that they define axes of rotation thatconverge at a central area, desirably a central area having a surfacearea of 64 square inches, more desirably a central area having a surfacearea of 4 square inches, and preferably the central area issubstantially a single point, underneath the seating surface 804.

Four-link embodiments of the seat assembly 800 may be actuated to movebetween the first position and the second position to assist ingress andegress of the seat. At least one motor 840, 842 (FIG. 10B), such as anelectric motor or a hydraulic actuator, may drive at least one link 806to move the seat 802 from the first position to the second position.FIG. 10B depicts a schematic representation of two motors 840, 842coupled to two links 806 via respective output shafts 844, 846. Themovement of the seat 802 from the first to the second positions causesthe seat surface 804 to elevate and rotate.

Although FIGS. 8-11 depict spherical bearings 828 pivotally connectingthe second ends 810 of the links 806 to the seating surface 804, othercouplings known in the art may alternately be used. For example doublehinges 128 such as are illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 may be used in thefour-link embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 8-11.

With reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 another embodiment of vehicle seatassembly 100′ is depicted. The vehicle seat assembly 100′ isstructurally and functionally similar to the embodiment described abovewith respect to FIGS. 1-7. As depicted in FIGS. 12 and 13, the vehicleseat assembly 100′ comprises a bucket seat 102′ as can be used in anautomobile. The vehicle seat assembly 100′ comprises a seat 102′ havinga seating surface 104′; and a plurality of links 106′, each link havinga first portion desirably defining first end 108′ and a second portiondesirably defining a second end 110′. The seat 102′ can be mounted on apair of rails 140 such that it can be slid forwards and rearwards withrespect to the floor of the vehicle such that a vehicle occupant'sposition can be easily adjusted. The second ends 110′ of the links 106′can be coupled to the rails 140, coupled to frame members connected tothe rails 140, or coupled to a seat base plate joined to the rails toallow forward and rearward adjustability of the seat 102′ as well aselevation and rotation for ease of ingress and egress.

Method of Elevating and Rotating a Vehicle Seat Assembly

Another aspect of the seat assemblies of the present invention is amethod of elevating and rotating a vehicle seat. The method includes thesteps of providing a seat assembly comprising a seat having a seatingsurface wherein the seat is pivotally mounted with respect to a floor ofa vehicle with a plurality of links having a first portion desirablydefining first end and a second portion desirably defining a second end,wherein the first ends of each of the plurality of links are pivotallymounted with respect to the floor of the vehicle and the second ends ofeach of the plurality of links are pivotally coupled to a lower surfaceof the seating surface; and driving at least one of the plurality oflinks from a first position in which the at least one driven link issubstantially parallel to the floor of the vehicle and the seatingsurface towards a second position in which the at least one driven linkis transverse to the floor of the vehicle and the seating surface. Thedriving step may be accomplished with at least one motor such as anelectric motor or hydraulic actuator. Where the provided seat assemblycomprises three pivoting links, driving a single link between the firstand second positions will elevate and rotate the seat with respect tothe floor of the vehicle. Where the provided seat assembly comprisesfour or more pivoting links, the driving step may comprise driving morethan one link to elevate and rotate the seat with respect to the floorof the vehicle.

Method of Exiting A Vehicle Seat

Yet another aspect of the seat assemblies of the present invention is amethod of exiting a vehicle seat. The method includes the steps ofactuating a seat assembly comprising a seat having a seating surfacewherein the seat is pivotally mounted with respect to a floor of avehicle with a plurality of links having a first end and a second end,wherein the first ends of each of the plurality of links are pivotallymounted with respect to the floor of the vehicle and the second ends ofeach of the plurality of links are pivotally coupled to a lower surfaceof the seating surface; and standing up off of the seat. Advantageously,this method facilitates exit of a vehicle by a passenger as thepassenger will be elevated and rotated towards the vehicle's door. Thismethod particularly eases the difficulties associated with exiting asmall, low car such as a sports car.

Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certainpreferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond thespecifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodimentsand/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalentsthereof. Further, the various features of this invention can be usedalone, or in combination with other features of this invention otherthan as expressly described above. Thus, it is intended that the scopeof the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by theparticular disclosed embodiments described above, but should bedetermined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.

1. A seat assembly comprising: a seat having a seating surface; and aplurality of links, each link having a first portion and a secondportion; wherein the first portion of each link is configured to bepivotally mounted with respect to a floor of a vehicle and wherein thesecond portion of each link is pivotally connected to a lower surface ofthe seating surface; wherein the pivotal mounting of the first portionof each link defines an axis of rotation for each link; and wherein theaxes of rotation of every link of the plurality of links intersect at acentral area beneath said seat when said seat is in a relaxed position.2. The seat assembly of claim 1, further comprising a base section,wherein the first portion of each link is pivotally mounted to the basesection.
 3. The seat assembly of claim 2, wherein the base section isslidably mounted to the floor of the vehicle.
 4. The seat assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the axes of rotation of every link of the plurality oflinks intersect at substantially a single point beneath said seat whensaid seat is in a relaxed position.
 5. The seat assembly of claim 1,wherein the central area has an area of approximately 64 square inches.6. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the central area has an area ofapproximately 4 square inches.
 7. The seat assembly of claim 1, whereinthe plurality of links comprises three links.
 8. The seat assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of links comprises four links.
 9. Theseat assembly of claim 1, further comprising spherical bearings topivotally couple the second ends of each link to the lower surface ofthe seating surface.
 10. The seat assembly of claim 2, wherein the basesection is configured to removably mount to a vehicle.
 11. The seatassembly of claim 1, wherein the seat assembly is movable between afirst position in which the plurality of links are substantiallyparallel to the floor of the vehicle and the seating surface and asecond position in which the plurality of links are transverse to thefloor of the vehicle and the seating surface such that when the seatingassembly is moved between the first and second positions, the seat iselevated and rotated with respect to the floor of the vehicle.
 12. Theseat assembly of claim 1, further comprising an electric motoroperatively coupled to one of the plurality of links and configured tomove the seat assembly.
 13. The seat assembly of claim 1, furthercomprising two electric motors each operatively coupled to a differentone of the plurality of links and configured to move the seat assembly.14. The seat assembly of claim 1, further comprising a telescoping balljoint positioned at approximately the central area of the seat.
 15. Aseat assembly comprising: a seat having a seating surface; and aplurality of links, each link having a first portion and a secondportion; wherein the first portion of each link is configured to bepivotally mounted with respect to a floor of a vehicle and wherein thesecond portion of each link is pivotally connected to a lower surface ofthe seating surface; wherein the pivoted mounting of the first portionand the second portion of each link defines a pair of axes of rotationfor each link; and wherein the seat assembly is movable between a firstposition in which the axes of rotation for each of the plurality oflinks are substantially parallel to the floor of the vehicle and theseating surface and a second position in which axes of rotation for eachof the plurality of links are transverse to the floor of the vehicle andthe seating surface such that when the seating assembly is moved betweenthe first and second positions, the links cooperate to elevate androtate the seat with respect to the floor of the vehicle.
 16. The seatassembly of claim 15, further comprising a base section, wherein thefirst ends of each link are pivotally mounted to the base section. 17.The seat assembly of claim 16, wherein the base section is slidablymounted to the floor of the vehicle.
 18. The seat assembly of claim 15,further comprising an electric motor operatively coupled to one of theplurality of links and configured to move the seat assembly between thefirst position and the second position.
 19. The seat assembly of claim15, further comprising two electric motors, each operatively coupled toa different one of the plurality of links and configured to move theseat assembly between the first position and the second position.
 20. Avehicle seat assembly comprising: a seat; and a single rotating linkagemechanism providing both elevation and rotation of the seat relative toa vehicle floor.
 21. A method of elevating and rotating a vehicle seatcomprising the steps of: providing a seat assembly comprising a seathaving a seating surface wherein the seat is pivotally mounted withrespect to a floor of a vehicle with a plurality of links having a firstportion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of each of theplurality of links is pivotally mounted with respect to the floor of thevehicle and the second portion of each of the plurality of links ispivotally connected to a lower surface of the seating surface; anddriving at least one of the plurality of links from a first position inwhich the at least one driven link is substantially parallel to thefloor of the vehicle and the seating surface towards a second positionin which the at least one driven link is transverse to the floor of thevehicle and the seating surface.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein thedriving step comprises the step of actuating an electric motoroperatively coupled to one of the plurality of links.
 23. A method ofexiting a seat of a vehicle comprising the steps of: actuating a seatassembly comprising a seat having a seating surface wherein the seat ispivotally mounted with respect to a floor of a vehicle with a pluralityof links having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the firstportion of each of the plurality of links is pivotally mounted withrespect to the floor of the vehicle and the second portion of each ofthe plurality of links is pivotally connected to a lower surface of theseating surface; and standing up off of the seat; wherein said actuatingstep includes the step of moving the plurality of links from a firstposition in which the links are substantially parallel to the floor ofthe vehicle toward a second position in which the links are transverseto the floor of the vehicle and the seating surface.